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Dear Parents, Friends, Staff and Students of Mount Carmel,
Next Sunday’s gospel (Matthew 18:21-35) is the story where Jesus tells His followers of the servant who was forgiven his debts and then went and demanded payment from another who owed him money. The master who had forgiven the original debt became angry and then demanded payment. The Gospel goes on to state “forgive your brother from your heart”. In reflecting on this Gospel, I am reminded of the reflection of St Teresa of Avila and her own thoughts on the section of the Our Father that states: Forgive us our debts as we forgive those who are indebted to us”. In a book written by Fr Aloysius Rego OCD, he explains that St Teresa makes a point of the fact that the prayer states “as we forgive” rather than “as we will forgive” (or even have forgiven). The focus of this is in the present. This forgiveness is not about what we might intend to do at some future point but what is in our hearts at the present moment. Forgiveness is not a philosophy or ideal, it is an action. As I have suggested previously, this does not mean that our behaviours do not have consequences but it does mean that we should consider how we act toward others and what we hold within our heart. As the Our Father prayer continues, how we forgive others we ask God to reflect in His treatment of us. This Gospel asks us to consider our relationships with others and the way that we might act within our daily lives.
Our Year 11 Student Representative Councillors underwent a leadership day last Wednesday. At this meeting, they looked at the purpose of Mount Carmel Catholic College as a place of learning and spiritual development. The students worked together and established a cohesive and effective team. Over the next week or so, we hope to announce the College Captains, Vice Captains and portfolio holders. Following this announcement, we will look to hold an induction ceremony which recognises the importance of these roles. Once again thank you to Ms Moore and Mr Lozelle for their work with the student leaders.
Last Tuesday we held the second Zoom based Parents and Friends’ meeting. This was once again an opportunity to hear what is happening around the College and to input into P & F ideas and discuss funding by the P & F of various College projects. I thank the parents who attend these meetings and provide valuable feedback. The last meeting for the year will be held next term on Tuesday November 10. We will announce as we get closer to this date whether it will be held on site or as a zoom meeting.
As we come to the end of term 3, our Year 12 students are nearing the end of their time at Mount Carmel Catholic College. We are planning a very limited ceremony for them to receive their graduation portfolios and will inform Year 12 parents of this as details are finalised early next week. Our best wishes are extended to our HSC students as they conclude their studies.
Over the past few months, Bishop Brian had been celebrating Sunday Mass and livestreaming it. This stopped a few weeks ago, however, Bishop Brian has decided to reintroduce these online masses. These will be returning from this Sunday and can be accessed here.
Mr Steve Lo Cascio
Principal
Later this week, the College Principal Steve Lo Cascio will undergo his appraisal process with the Catholic Education Office in Wollongong. As part of this, members of the parent community have been given the opportunity to contribute to the process by participating in a survey that has been circulated over the past couple of weeks. This survey invites parents to consider Mr Lo Cascio’s areas of achievement over the past three years and identify areas that can be further developed in the years ahead. The survey was circulated to parents via email once again yesterday and closes this coming Sunday 13 September. I encourage all members of our parent community to offer their input over the coming days.
Early next week, students in Year 10 will bring home information regarding their immunisations that were rescheduled from earlier this year during our period of remote learning. Despite the current restrictions being placed on external personnel visiting the College, the nursing team from NSW Health have been granted permission to be onsite for these vaccinations on Thursday 15 October, pending any change to health advice between now and then.
Finally, as has been communicated over the last few weeks, a reminder that schools are now mandated to send home students that present with flu-like symptoms, allowing them to return only once a negative COVID-19 test has been received and the relevant symptoms have ceased. If your son or daughter is tested, please remember to inform the College once the test has been administered, and again once the result is known.
Mr David CloranAssistant Principal
Catholic World
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
1st Reading Sir 27:30 - 28:7 Hate and anger lead to death; love and forgiveness to the kingdom
2nd Reading Rom 14:7-9 Christ is Lord of the living and the dead.
Gospel Mt 18:21-35 Parable of the official who, receiving mercy,does not show it to others
REFLECTION by Dianne Bergant CSA
A distinctive feature of the teachings of Jesus is his exhortation to forgive. Very explicit about this, Jesus left us his own example by forgiving his executioners while he hung dying on the cross. Until recently we thought that forgiveness begins with the offender repenting of the offence and then asking for pardon. Today many maintain that reconciliation must begin with the one offended offering forgiveness. This willingness to forgive transforms a victim into a survivor. Such magnanimity might then touch the heart of the offender, who may thus be transformed from being an offender to becoming a friend.
If God has been so generous in forgiving us, surely we should be generous in forgiving others. The process of becoming a forgiving person takes time. For some, it may take a lifetime. Only little by little are our pettiness and indignation reduced and our desire to strike back diminished. Still, as disciples, we are expected to give the forgiveness that we have been given.
Such forgiveness does not provide an easy way out for offenders, for ultimately justice will prevail. If we remain untransformed by God’s forgiveness of us, we will be liable to judgment. Our unwillingness to forgive can eat away at us, and we can carry hurts from childhood far into adult years. Forgiving others, as difficult as that may be, is in the long run much easier than bearing the weight of resentfulness, vindictiveness and unresolved frustration. When we forgive we truly begin to be healed.
Mrs Christine Meharg
YEAR 11 EXAMINATIONS
Commence Friday 11 September and Finish Monday 21 September. All students have received their Examination Timetable, along with student expectations and College procedures. If a student is sick they are NOT to attend an examination and MUST follow College Illness/Misadventure procedures.
YEAR 12 HSC Preparation Holiday Classes
Holiday classes will be offered once again to support Year 12 students in preparation for their HSC Examinations. A Schedule will be shared with Year 12 Students in the coming week. These sessions are not compulsory, however, all students are encouraged to attend.
HSC
Key dates and deadlines listed on the NESA website are subject to change due to the COVID-19 outbreak. NESA will continue to update you with exceptions and changes to relevant deadlines.
https://www.educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/covid-19/coronavirus-advice/hsc
TERM 4
- 20 October - HSC Exams commence
- 11 November - HSC exams finish
- 18 December - HSC results released (ATAR release date TBC)
HSC Examination Timetable available on NESA website
https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/11-12/hsc/key-dates-exam-timetables
Ms Judith Tolomeo
Curriculum Coordinator
Yesterday was RUOK Day and considering the nature of our year to date, dealing with fires, floods and COVID-19, it was appropriate that this day should occur as we come towards the culmination of what has been another busy term. RUOK became a focus for our Years 7-10 Pastoral Activities this morning, where a range of activities were geared towards each respective year group and led by Pastoral Advisors. Year 11 commenced their Preliminary Examinations today and we wish them all the best over the next 10 days of assessment as they complete the preliminary course of study. Year 12 dedicated their morning to reflecting on their recent HSC Trials and looked at setting some goals for their final preparation for the HSC.
As the COVID-19 landscape continues to evolve, could I please remind students and carers of the process involved should a student display COVID-19 like symptoms. Should the student need to be picked up from school, two forms are provided for careers to complete upon a return to school. For those showing symptoms at home, a clearance form needs to be submitted to the Front Office before students can re-engage with normal classes. PDF’s of these forms are attached to the links below:
Covid Student Medical Clearance Form
Covid return to school information
As always, thanks for your ongoing support with student learning and wellbeing.
Mr Simon Huntly
Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Coordinator
Students are reminded that College Sport is a compulsory requirement of enrolment at Mount Carmel Catholic College.
- If a student is unable to participate in sport on any given Tuesday they must provide a note signed by their parent/guardian to the Sports Coordinator at recess on the day that they cannot participate.
- This will provide the opportunity for a discussion and for an alternative plan to be put into place for the afternoon.
- In most cases, students will attend either their group or another group as decided upon by the Sports Coordinator and will adopt another role such as scoring, timekeeping or refereeing. This is of course dependent on the reason for non-participation.
Physical Activity Guidelines
Sport is an opportunity for students to participate in physical activities through a range of contexts. Participation in physical activity is fundamental to the acquisition of movement skills. Having the opportunity to move and be active is an absolute privilege along with providing an opportunity for students to accumulate physical activity minutes daily. Please see the Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Young People (5 to 17 years) below and consider strategies that could be implement to meet and/or exceed the guidelines.
Recreational Sport
The sport schedule is pinned to the Compass dashboard each week in which students and staff have access to. Adjustments have had to occur for some groups as we are not yet using buses to travel off-site for sport. The cross country track has been mowed and will be utilised for cardiorespiratory activities during sport.
Year 11
Year 11 will not participate in College sport on Tuesday during Week 8 due to their preliminary exams. We wish them the best of luck during this time period. Year 11 are reminded that physical activity is an excellent strategy for managing and dealing with stress.
MISA Skill-Development Term 3
MISA Teams will continue refining their skills through small-sided games and skill-based drills within a competitive environment. The new directive that “students must remain with their relevant cohort (class, year group or stage) to limit the mixing of students between cohort groups” has resulted in the following changes to MISA groupings. These groupings have been communicated to students and are reflected in the sports schedule.
Sun Safety
It is so important that students and staff are protecting their skin from UV-rays by wearing the College hat and applying sunscreen. A sunscreen station is available outside the sports office on a Tuesday for Sport. Students are encouraged to utilise this station and to use sanitiser before and after. Skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in Australia. More than 434, 000 people are treated for one or more non-melanoma cancers in Australia each year and more than 11,500 people are treated for melanomas. Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. Below are 5 tips from the Cancer Council.
Source: https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/sun-safety/be-sunsmart
As you may be aware there has been a clear increase in restrictions from the NSW Government and this has resulted in additional directives from CEDoW. CEDoW directives which are now in place for the remainder of term 3 were communicated to parents via a letter that was sent earlier in the week.
CEDoW Directives relating to sport
Contact sports remain suspended.
- Students will continue engaging in skill-based drills and small-sided modified games for all contact sports.
Students must remain within their relevant cohort (class, year group, or stage) to limit the mixing of students between cohort groups.
- Students will remain within year groups for all recreational sports
- MISA sporting groups have been split into stages
- Some MISA groups have been collapsed and these students will return to their recreational groups (this includes Year 10 AFL students, Years 10 - 12 Softball and Years 10 - 12 Cricket).
External providers essential to the delivery of the sport or physical activity are permitted.
- External providers such as fitness instructors and coaches will continue to be utilised to enhance the sporting program of the College
- External providers have provided a COVID-safe plan
- All visitors have read and signed the CEDoW COVID paperwork prior to conducting each session.
The use of local external venues and facilities (including external sporting grounds, pools, recreational facilities and community facilities) where the school has exclusive use are permitted in line with venue protocols and COVID safety plans.
- The vast majority of students will remain on-site. The exception to this is MISA Soccer, MISA AFL and power walking groups who will use Kooringa Reserve.
- The paddocks behind the College (Cross Country track) will be utilised in coming weeks.
In addition to the requirements above, sporting equipment continues to regularly be cleaned before and after Tuesday activities. Students are encouraged to continue utilising the hand-sanitizer stations found around the College both before and after activity. Students are to continue respecting social distancing between themselves and adults (teachers / instructors that support the College’s sport program).
DIOCESAN SPORT NEWS
Updates and news on Wollongong Diocese sport events and trials can be viewed at https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/sport/diocesan-sport-news/?ref=quicklinks
Please note that all Term 3 Diocesan events have been cancelled.
Updates on specific events secondary events can be viewed at https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/sport/events-secondary/
Higher level MacKillop and CCC trials and events status can be monitored at https://csnsw.sport/news/events-suspended
In each case a COVID-19 safety plan will be developed inline with normal risk assessment procedures. These events will be subject to existing NSW government restrictions and advice along with CEDoW leadership input.
Please note: all Term 3 Diocesan sporting events have been cancelled.
NSWCCC / CSNSW SPORT NEWS
Each Diocese has their own process for actioning refunds. Please be patient as we work through these. Any questions should be directed to the contact details found on the top of your invoice. Students who have been selected in a Polding / MacKillop / NSWCCC team will be contacted directly to organise refunds and discuss uniform options. The CSNSW Sport store has been closed, for now no merchandise can be purchased until further notice.
Please continue to monitor the CSNSW sport website for updates and the most current information regarding cancelled events. Information can be found at Welcome to Catholic Schools Sports Services | CSNSW Sport Portal.
SCHOOL SPORT AUSTRALIA SPORT NEWS
Understandably, this decision will likely have a flow on effect for all sporting events (Diocesan, CCC etc) moving forward in 2020. Information will be communicated as the situation continues to develop and unfold.
More School Sport Australia information can be found at School Sport Australia - Education through school sport.
Miss Sarah Bowen
(Acting College Sport Coordinator - bowens01@dow.catholic.edu.au)
The Second Hand Uniform Shop is open from 2.30pm - 4pm on the following days.
Term 4
- 12 October
- 2 November
- 7 December
